At least 69 people were killed in the Caribbean by Hurricane Sandy before it made landfall in the United States earlier this week. Haiti and Cuba were both particularly hard-hit, with at least 54 people alone dying in Haiti, the BBC reported.

Situation report:

At least 69 people were killed in the Caribbean by Hurricane Sandy before it made landfall in the United States earlier this week. Haiti and Cuba were both particularly hard-hit, with at least 54 people alone dying in Haiti, the BBC reported.

In Cuba, 11 died, and more than 188,000 homes were damaged. The eastern city of Santiago de Cuba was particularly devastated. A total of 343,230 people in Cuba were evacuated -- 328,881 to private houses with relatives and neighbors and 14,349 to shelter centers, the ACT Alliance reported.

In Haiti, Sandy was being seen as far worse than the earlier Hurricane Isaac, with devastating flooding, including northwest Haiti, where CWS has supported the work of agricultural cooperatives. Severe flooding from Sandy in Haiti has damaged and blocked infrastructure/roads, damaged/destroyed houses, caused loss of livestock and severe damage to agricultural fields, ACT reports.

The latest disaster puts additional pressure on a country still recovering from the devastating January 2010 earthquake. Food security was already highly threatened by the damage caused by Isaac in August. Livelihoods in highly vulnerable rural areas have been lost, and the affected communities have limited capacity to recover without external support, ACT reports.

Response:

CUBA: In this initial appeal, CWS plans to support $50,000 of the full ACT Alliance appeal of $450,000, with support going to assist with emergency family food packages and water provision as part of initial recovery efforts. Our long-time partner, the Cuban Council of Churches, is currently conducting damage assessments in affected areas. The CWS-supported response will include emergency relief to 360 families initially with food and water, and then supporting 1,000 families with psycho-social activities, shelter (reconstruction) and livelihood restoration.

CWS is also providing the CCC with a shipment of material goods that was in process before the hurricane. The shipment, valued at $176,490, includes 3,300 CWS Blankets; 9,000 CWS Hygiene Kits; 1,125 CWS Hygiene Kits; and 1,500 CWS School Kits.

HAITI: CWS will be supporting recovery efforts of the Christian Center for Integrated Development, a CWS partner known by the Haitian Creole acronym SKDE, in northwest Haiti, site of agricultural cooperatives that CWS has long supported with emergency and development assistance. Initial reports say the co-operatives were severely damaged, with loss of buildings, gardens and livestock, SKDE reports. "These represent the bank account (or wealth) of the poorest," said the Rev. Herode Guillomettre, who heads SKDE.

While more specifics will be provided about the CWS-supported response pending full assessment of needs and the planned response from partners in Haiti, CWS plans to support initial efforts with $50,000.

TOTAL OF CUBA AND HAITI RESPONSE: $100,000

How to help:

DONATE NOW: Contributions to support CWS emergency response efforts may be made online or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515 (REF: HURRICANE SANDY APPEAL, U.S., #6766).

Church World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global
coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian
assistance and advocacy.

CWS works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world.

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